End attachment for watch band and self-contained component for use in making the same

ABSTRACT

An end attachment for watch bands which permits use of a watch band with wrist watches having different spacings between their attachment lugs. The end attachment includes a self-contained component which includes a generally tubular member, coiled compression spring means and a pair of generally tubular inserts which are slideable within the generally tubular member. One of the inserts has its inner end positioned against one outer end of said spring means, the other insert has its inner end positioned against another outer end of said spring means and stop means on the generally tubular member act upon the inserts to limit their outward sliding movements under the action of the spring means. The attachment also includes an ornamental top shell having a generally tubular portion attached about the generally tubular portion of the self-contained component and a member extending laterally therefrom with means for attaching the top shell to the end of a watch band. The top shell may be deeply impressed with the design of the links of the watch band to which the end attachment is to be attached without interfering with the sliding movements of the inserts within the generally tubular member of the self-contained component.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Wrist watch bands are often sold separate from the watches to which theyare to be attached. One reason for this is that styles in watch bandschange more rapidly than styles in watches and watch cases and, duringthe life of the watch, wearers therefore frequently use severaldifferent watch bands. Another reason is that the preference of the userfor watch bands of different types such as plastic, metal, snake chain,buckle secured, or expansible may change from season to season or at thewhim of the person concerned.

One problem presented to the manufacturer of watch bands sold separatelyfrom watches is that the watch case lugs between which the watch bandend attachments are to be secured are not uniformly spaced in allwatches. The watch band manufacturer therefore has been forced to makewatch bands having a variety of widths of end attachments so as to fitvarious watch sizes or else the jeweler from whom the watch band isbought must perform delicate and time consuming operations on the endattachment to make it fit a particular watch. These tasks are expensivefor the watch band manufacturer and for the retail dealer.

There have been many proposed solutions of the problem over a longperiod of time.

In one group of prior art patents the elements of the end attachment ofthe watch bands must be removed, and/or replaced, and/or filed by theretail jeweler to cause the end attachment to fit watches havingdifferent distances between the lugs. This is a troublesome and timeconsuming task for the retail jeweler. Such patents include thefollowing U.S. patents:

    Patent No.     Date         Inventor                                          ______________________________________                                        1,836,772    December 15, 1931                                                                            Rossman                                           2,883,727    March 12, 1957 Obst                                              3,118,209    January 21, 1964                                                                             Vollet                                            3,675,284    July 11, 1972  Rieth                                             3,678,544    July 25, 1972  Bert                                              ______________________________________                                    

In another group of prior art patents the part of the end connectorwhich directly encircles the slideable width adjusting elements cannotbe impressed with deep designs to match the design of the links of thewatch band without interfering with slideability of the width adjustingelements. Such patents include the following U.S. patents:

    Patent No.     Date         Inventor                                          ______________________________________                                        1,713,533    May 21, 1929   Jones                                             2,653,369    September 25, 1953                                                                           Rodrigues                                         3,160,938    December 15, 1964                                                                            Minutoli                                          3,477,107    November 11, 1969                                                                            Nadeau                                            3,705,456    December 12, 1972                                                                            Bruner                                            3,740,804    June 26, 1973  Levinger                                          ______________________________________                                    

While patent to Fachon U.S. Pat. No. 2,775,861 recognizes thedesirability of providing a continuation of the design of the links ofthe watch band to the end connector it solves the problem by providing aseparate filler member between the spring bar and the watch case and thespring bar interrupts the continuity of the design. Furthermore in thispatent no means are provided for adjusting the width of the endconnector to fit between differently spaced lugs of watch bands.

In a still further group of patents spring actuated members are providedfor automatically adjusting the width of the end connector to fitbetween differently spaced lugs of watches but the end connectors arevery expensive to manufacture and are incapable of using self-containedgenerally tubular components which can be automatically assembled bymachinery prior to assembling an ornamental top shell of the endconnector to the self-contained component. Such patents include thefollowing U.S. patents:

    Patent No.     Date         Inventor                                          ______________________________________                                        2,713,445    July 19, 1955  Speck                                             2,807,855    October 1, 1959                                                                              Rodriguez                                         3,217,374    November 16, 1965                                                                            Sang                                              3,030,686    April 24, 1962 Burkhardt                                         3,477,107    November 11, 1969                                                                            Nadeau                                            3,707,744    January 2, 1973                                                                              Manzo                                             ______________________________________                                    

From the foregoing prior art it is apparent that there has been arecognized long-felt need for an end attachment for watch bands for usein attaching a watch band between attachment lugs of wrist watch caseswhich is economical to manufacture and assemble, can be deeply impressedwith the design of the links of the watch band, does not require theretail dealer to stock either watch bands having end attachments ofdifferent widths or additional replacement parts and can be quickly andeasily adapted by the retailer to fit between the lugs of watches whichare spaced different distances apart without removing and/or replacingand/or filing elements of the end connector.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One object of this invention is to provide an end attachment for a watchband adapted to be mounted between lugs of wrist watch cases which arespaced different distances apart and which is economical to manufactureand assemble.

Another object is to provide such an end attachment in which an elementof the end attachment can be provided with deeply impressed designs tomatch the designs of the links of the watch band without interferingwith free slideability of the width adjusting elements.

A further object is to provide a self-contained component for making anend attachment for a watch band which comprises a generally tubularmember, coiled compression springs and generally tubular inserts whichcan be assembled automatically.

Another object is to provide a new end attachment for a watch band.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent topersons skilled in the art from the following description taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings.

In general, the end attachment of this invention includes a generallytubular member formed from a strip of metal, and coiled compressionspring means within the tubular member. A pair of generally tubularinserts are provided which are adapted to slide within the generallytubular member. Each insert is formed from a strip of metal and has agenerally rectangular slot formed between the edges of the strip. Thisslot has an open outer end and an inner end which is formed by the edgesof a pair of tabs which extend inwardly towards each other from theadjacent ends of the strip. A pair of tabs is provided, one adjacent toone end of the strip from which the generally tubular member is formedand the other adjacent to its other end and the ends of these tabsextend into the rectangular slots respectively and engage the edges ofthe tabs of the inserts, thereby to stop outward movements of theinserts by the coiled springs.

The end attachment also includes an ornamental top shell which comprisesa generally tubular portion surrounding at least the upper and endportions and part of the lower portion of the generally tubular member,means for securing the generally tubular portion of the top shell to thegenerally tubular member, and a member extending laterally from thegenerally tubular portion of the top shell which includes means forattaching it to the end of a watch band.

In the preferred embodiment the generally tubular member, the coiledcompression spring means and pair of generally tubular inserts areformed as a self-contained component and the generally tubular portionof the ornamental top shell is applied to the exterior of the generallytubular member of the component.

In another preferred embodiment the ornamental top shell is impressedwith the deeply impressed design of the links of the watch band to whichthe end attachment is to be attached and, because the generally tubularmember is between the inserts and the top shell, the ornamental designimpressed in the top shell does not interfere with the sliding movementsof the inserts within the generally tubular member.

In a further preferred embodiment the generally tubular member comprisesstop means substantially midway between its ends for engaging the coiledcompression spring means.

In yet another preferred embodiment the coiled compression spring meanscomprises a pair of coiled compression springs, one extending outwardlyfrom one side of the stop means and the other extending outwardly fromthe other side of the stop means.

In a still further embodiment the ends of the strip of metal from whichthe generally tubular member is formed comprises oppositely positionedcutout portions substantially intermediate its ends and the stop meanscomprises a tab extending from the side of one of these cutout portionsthereby dividing the cutout portion into a pair of cutout portions. Inthis embodiment the means for securing the generally tubular portion ofthe top shell to the generally tubular member comprises a pair of spacedtabs which extend into this pair of cutout portions.

Preferably the tab adjacent to one end of the generally tubular memberextends in one direction near one end of the strip of metal and the tabadjacent to the other end of the generally tubular member extends in theopposite direction near the other end of the strip of metal so thegenerally tubular member is symmetrical facilitating automatic assemblyof the self-contained component.

The self-contained component for making the end attachment includes agenerally tubular member formed from a strip of metal. A pair of tabs isprovided, one adjacent to one end of the strip of metal and the otheradjacent to the other end thereof, and the ends of these tabs arebendable towards the interior of the generally tubular member.

Coiled compression spring means is located within the generally tubularmember.

A pair of generally tubular inserts are adapted to slide within thegenerally tubular member. Each insert is formed from a strip of metaland has a generally rectangular slot formed between the edges of thestrip. This slot has an open outer end and an inner end which is formedby the edges of a pair of tabs which extend inwardly towards each otherfrom the adjacent ends of the strip.

This self-contained component can be assembled by an automatic machinewhich inserts the coiled compression spring means into the generallytubular member then simultaneously inserts the inserts at opposite endsof the generally tubular member with the open ends of their rectangularslots pointing outwardly and moves them inwardly compressing the springmeans until the inner ends of the rectangular slots pass beyond the tabsof the generally tubular member and then bends the ends of the tabs intothe longitudinal slots, so that the inner edges of the tabs of thegenerally tubular member are adapted to engage the edges of the tabswhich form the inner ends of the rectangular slots of the inserts whenthe inserts are moved outwardly predetermined distances by the springs,thereby to stop further outward movements of the inserts by the coiledsprings.

In a preferred embodiment of the component the tab adjacent to one endof the generally tubular member extends in one direction near one end ofthe strip of metal and the tab adjacent to the other end of thegenerally tubular member extends in the opposite direction near theother end of the strip of metal.

In a further preferred embodiment the generally tubular member comprisesstop means substantially midway between its ends for engaging the coiledcompression spring means.

In yet another preferred embodiment the coiled compression spring meanscomprises a pair of coiled compression springs, one extending outwardlyfrom one side of the stop means and the other extending outwardly fromthe other side of the stop means.

The stop means preferably comprises a bendable tab which extends fromone end of the strip of metal substantially midway between its ends.

Preferably the ends of the strip of metal from which the generallytubular member is formed comprises oppositely positioned cutout portionssubstantially midway between their ends and the stop means comprises atab extending from one side of one of the cutout portions substantiallyintermediate its ends thereby dividing the cutout portion into a pair ofcutout portions.

It will be apparent to persons skilled in the art that this inventionhas solved the above described long-felt need and satisfied the abovedescribed objects.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top plan view showing two ends of a ladies' watch band withthe end connectors in place between the lugs of a wrist watch;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a spring bar of a wrist watch, an endconnector embodying this invention and a watch band with parts of thewatch band broken away and two of the link connecting means of the watchband shown in dot dash;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged section taken on the line 3--3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged bottom plan view of the end connector and watchband shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is an exploded view looking at the bottom of the generallytubular member, pair of coiled compression springs and pair of generallytubular inserts in positions prior to assembly to form a self-containedcomponent for an end connector;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged perspective view looking at the bottom of anassembled self-contained component for an end connector with one of theinserts shown in dot dash at the right of the view;

FIG. 7 is a section taken on the line 7--7 of FIG. 6; and

FIG. 8 is a section taken on the line 8--8 of FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The end attachment embodying this invention is adapted to be connectedto any conventional wrist watch having two pairs of laterally spacedlugs.

Referring to FIG. 1, 10 designates an expansion watch band securedbetween the spaced lugs 12 of the watch 13 by the end attachment 14.

While the end attachment is adapted to be used with any conventionalwatch band, it is shown attached to an expansion watch band of the typeshown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,307,348 to Vanover although the watch bandshown in the present application uses only one spring in each link. Sucha watch band comprises a row of top links 15 (FIGS. 2 and 3) and a rowof bottom links 16, each link extending in a direction generallytransverse to the length of the linkage. There is a leaf spring 17located in each link and the links are held together by U-shapedconnecting members 18 having their legs positioned between the ends ofthe springs and the outer walls of the top and bottom linksrespectively, thus to provide an expansible linkage. The watch band iscompleted by securing ornamental top shells 19 to the top links.

The end attachment 14 of this invention comprises a self-containedcomponent 20 (FIG. 6) which comprises a generally tubular member 21formed from a strip of metal which is bent into tubular form to providea longitudinal slit 23 between adjacent ends of the strip. A pair oftabs 24, 25 are formed from the strip of metal, one adjacent to one endof the strip and the other adjacent to the other end, the ends of thesetabs being bendable towards the interior of the tubular member 21. Itwill be observed that the tab 24 extends in one direction near one endof the strip of metal and that tab 25 extends in the opposite directionadjacent to the other end of the strip. With this construction, thegenerally tubular member is symmetrical and automatic assembly of theself-contained component is facilitated. However, the component can beless easily assembled automatically if these tabs extend in the samedirection and in use it functions as well as the preferred embodiment.

Oppositely positioned cutout portions 27 are provided substantiallyintermediate the ends of the generally tubular member 21 and a tab 28extends inwardly from the side of one of these cutout portions therebydividing it into a pair of cutout portions 27A and 27B, the function ofwhich will be described below.

In the preferred embodiment, the self-contained component 20 alsoincludes a pair of coiled compression springs 30 which slide looselywithin the generally tubular member 21 and the inner ends of whichengage the tab 28 which is bent inwardly of the tubular member 21 andforms stop means substantially midway between its ends. However, in itsbroad aspect, the invention contemplates use of a single coiledcompression spring without stop means. In another embodiment, a singlecoiled compression spring may be used together with a tab such as thetab 28, the end of which is bent inwardly between a pair of coils of thespring to act as stop means to prevent longitudinal movement of thespring with respect to the generally tubular member 21.

The self-contained component 20 also includes a pair of generallytubular inserts 32 adapted to slide within the generally tubular member21. Each insert is formed from a strip of metal and is provided with agenerally rectangular slot 33 formed between the edges of the strip ofmetal, this slot having an open end and an inner end formed by the edgesof the pair of tabs 34 which extend inwardly towards each other from theadjacent ends of the strip of metal.

In FIG. 5 the parts of the preferred self-contained component are shownin positions ready to be assembled. They can be assembled by anautomatic machine which simultaneously inserts the springs 30 atopposite ends of the tubular member 21 until their ends abut the stopmeans 28, simultaneously inserts the inserts 32 at opposite ends of thegenerally tubular member 21 and moves them inwardly to compress thesprings 30 until the inner ends of the rectangular slots 33 pass beyondthe tabs 24 and 25 of the generally tubular member 21 and then the endsof these tabs are bent into the longitudinal slots 33. The pressureagainst the outer ends of the inserts 32 is then released whereupon thesprings move the inserts outwardly and the inner edges of the tabs 24and 25 engage the outer edges of the tabs 34, thereby stopping furtheroutward movements of the inserts by the coiled springs.

The cost of making the self-contained components and of assembling themis extremely small and they are extremely durable.

The ornamental top shell 40 comprises a generally tubular portion 41which surrounds at least the upper and end portions and a substantialpart of the lower portion of the generally tubular member 21 of theself-contained component 20 and this top shell is provided with a pairof tabs 43 which are bent into the openings 27A and 27B of the generallytubular member 21 thereby to secure the top shell 40 to theself-contained component 20.

The top shell 40 is provided with a member 45 which extends laterallyfrom the generally tubular portion 41 as shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4. Thismember 45 is provided with a downwardly extending flange 46 which ispositioned between the end top link 15 of the watch band and the topshell 19 of the adjacent link of the watch band. The laterally extendingmember 45 is also provided with downwardly extending flanges 47 whichcover the ends of the end top link 15. The flanges 47 are provided witha pair of inwardly bent tabs 49 which engage the bottom wall of the endtop link 15 of the watch band thereby cooperating with the flange 46 tosecure the top shell 40 of the end link 15 to the watch band.

The generally tubular member 21 and the inserts 32 of the self-containedcomponent may be made of stainless steel or other suitable metal. Thetop shell 40 may be made of gold-filled material or stainless steel orother suitable material.

It will be observed that the top shell 40 is impressed with the designof the top links of the watch band so that the design of the watch bandis continuous from end to end thereof including the end connector.Because the inner surface of the generally tubular portion 41 of the topshell 40 is in contact with the outer surface of the generally tubularmember 21 of the self-contained component a deeply impressed designwhich carries through the metal of the top shell may be impressed on thetop shell without interfering with the free sliding movement of theinserts 32 which are only in contact with the inner surface of thegenerally tubular member 21.

In use the spring pin 60 of the watch is inserted through the inserts 32and coiled springs 30, one of the pins 61 is inserted in one of thecavities 62 of a watch lug, then the inserts are slid inwardly of thetubular member 21 further compressing the springs and the other pin 61is then inserted in the cavity of the other watch lug and released,thereby securing the spring pin between the lugs. The springs 30 urgethe inserts outwardly so they abut the inner sides of the lugs and theend attachment is secured in place as shown in FIG. 1. They alsocentralize the end attachment between the lug 12 of the watch. When asingle coiled spring is used instead of two springs and the tab 28 isbent inwardly between two coils of the spring, the end attachment isalso centralized between the lugs of the watch by the tab and spring.

To remove the end connector, it is merely necessary to reverse the abovesteps.

Thus the end attachment may be used with watches in which the lugs arespaced different distances apart.

For men's watch bands a longer end attachment is provided.

End attachments embodying this invention may be used with snake chainand buckle secured watch bands and watch bands made of components of thetype shown and described in copending application Ser. No. 386,069 filedby Rieth and Hoffman Aug. 6, 1973, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,844,136 datedOct. 29, 1974. They may also be used with all types of expansion watchbands such as lazy tongs or X type watch bands and others which are wellknown to persons skilled in the art.

It will be apparent to persons skilled in the art that this inventionhas solved the above described long-felt need and satisfied the abovedescribed objects.

While one desirable embodiment of the invention has been shown in thedrawings, it is to be understood that this disclosure is for the purposeof illustration only and various changes in shape, proportion andarrangement of parts as well as the substitution of equivalent elementsfrom those shown and described herein may be made without departing fromthe spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appendedclaims.

I claim:
 1. An end attachment for watch bands adapted to be mountedbetween spaced lugs of a wrist watch comprisinga generally tubularmember formed from a strip of metal, coiled compression spring meanswithin said tubular member, a pair of generally tubular inserts adaptedto slide within said generally tubular member, each insert being formedfrom a strip of metal and each insert having a generally rectangularslot formed between the edges of said strip which has an open end and aninner end formed by the edges of a pair of tabs which extend inwardlytowards each other from the adjacent ends of said strip, a pair of tabs,one adjacent to one end of the strip from which said generally tubularmember is formed and the other adjacent to the other end thereof, theends of said tabs extending respectively into said rectangular slots andengaging the edges of said tabs of said inserts, thereby to stop outwardmovements of said inserts by said coiled spring means, and an ornamentaltop shell, said top shell comprising a generally tubular portionsurrounding at least the upper and end portions and part of the lowerportion of said generally tubular member, means for securing saidgenerally tubular portion of said top shell to said generally tubularmember, and a member extending laterally from the generally tubularportion of the top shell including means for attaching it to the end ofa watch band.
 2. An end attachment according to claim 1 wherein saidgenerally tubular member, coiled compression spring means and pair ofgenerally tubular inserts consist of a self-contained component and thegenerally tubular portion of the ornamental top shell is applied to theexterior of said generally tubular member.
 3. An end attachmentaccording to claim 1 wherein said ornamental top shell is impressed withthe design of the links of the watch band to which the end attachment isto be attached, whereby the ornamental design impressed in said topshell does not interfere with the sliding movements of said insertswithin said generally tubular member.
 4. An end attachment according toclaim 1 wherein said generally tubular member comprises stop meanssubstantially midway between its ends for engaging said coiledcompression spring means.
 5. An end attachment according to claim 4wherein said coiled compression spring means comprises a pair of coiledcompression springs, one extending outwardly from one side of said stopmeans and the other extending outwardly from the other side thereof. 6.An end attachment according to claim 4 wherein the ends of said strip ofmetal from which said generally tubular member is formed compriseoppositely positioned cutout portions substantially intermediate itsends and said stop means comprises a tab extending from the side of oneof said cutout portions thereby dividing said one cutout portion into apair of cutout portions and said means for securing said generallytubular portion of said top shell to said generally tubular membercomprises a pair of spaced tabs which extend into said pair of cutoutportions.
 7. An end attachment according to claim 1 wherein the tabadjacent to one end of the generally tubular member extends in onedirection near one end of the strip of metal and the tab adjacent to theother end of the generally tubular member extends in the oppositedirection near the other end of the strip of metal.
 8. A self-containedcomponent for making an end attachment for watch bands adapted to bemounted between spaced lugs of a wrist watch comprisinga generallytubular member formed from a strip of metal, a pair of tabs, oneadjacent to one end of said strip and the other adjacent to the otherend thereof, the ends of said tabs being bendable towards the interiorof said tubular member, coiled compression spring means within saidtubular member, .[.and.]. a pair of .Iadd.hollow .Iaddend.generallytubular inserts adapted to slide within said generally tubular member,each insert being formed from a strip of metal and each insert having agenerally rectangular slot formed between the edges of said strip whichhas an open end and an inner end formed by the edges of a pair of tabswhich extend inwardly towards each other from the adjacent ends of saidstrip, .Iadd.and the outer surface of said self-contained componentbeing devoid of any lateral projection, .Iaddend. whereby said componentcan be assembled by an automatic machine which inserts said coiledcompression spring means into said tubular member and thensimultaneously inserts said .Iadd.hollow .Iaddend.inserts at oppositeends of said tubular member with the open ends of their rectangularslots pointing outwardly and moves them inwardly compressing said springmeans until the inner ends of said rectangular slots pass beyond saidtabs of the generally tubular member and then bends the ends of saidtabs into said longitudinal slots, whereby the inner edges of said tabsof the generally tubular member engage the edges of said tabs which formthe inner ends of the rectangular slots of the inserts, thereby to stopoutward movements of said inserts by said coiled springs.
 9. A componentaccording to claim 8 wherein the tab adjacent to one end of thegenerally tubular member extends in one direction near one end of thestrip of metal and the tab adjacent to the other end of the generallytubular member extends in the opposite direction near the other end ofthe strip of metal.
 10. A component according to claim 8 which alsocomprises stop means extending inwardly from said generally tubularmember substantially midway between its ends for engaging said coiledcompression spring means.
 11. A component according to claim 10 whereinsaid coiled compression spring means comprises a pair of coiledcompression springs, one extending outwardly from one side of said stopmeans and the other extending outwardly from the other side thereof. 12.A component according to claim 10 wherein said stop means comprises atab extending from one end of said strip of metal substantially midwaybetween its ends.
 13. A component according to claim 10 wherein the endsof said strip of metal from which said generally tubular member isformed comprise oppositely positioned cutout portions substantiallymidway between their ends and said stop means comprises a tab extendingfrom one side of one of said cutout portions substantially intermediateits ends thereby dividing said one cutout portion into a pair of cutoutportions.